Thinking of selling your home in the Shuswap?

Everyone has their own reason for selling their home. One thing, however, is universally true: the desire to get as much as you can for your home. There are a lot of ways you can add value that you might want to consider, such as:

• Renovating: This can be something as simple as freshening up the walls with a coat of paint or updating your door knobs and lighting with more contemporary styles, all the way to major renovations like installing a new kitchen, bathroom or hardwood floors. Before you do anything though, it’s probably wise to know how much value a renovation or remodel will actually add to your sale price and how much other comparable homes in your neighbourhood are selling for.

• Enhancing curb appeal: First impressions mean a lot. Which is why you want your home looking its very best when a potential buyer is standing at the bottom of your driveway or simply passing through the neighbourhood. So, make sure the lawn is cut and raked. If there are some dead patches of grass, over seed or sod. Trim bushes and trees, even add a few brightly coloured flowers. Touch up any peeling paint around exterior windows and doors, stain the fence or deck, clean up your garage or shed and ensure that your home looks just as enticing at night by making sure it’s well lit.

• Getting a home inspection: The last thing you want is for the deal to fall through due to an unpleasant surprise. It’s also highly likely that the buyer will ask for a home inspection anyway. So you may want to consider taking the initiative yourself. That way, if there are any major repairs that need doing now, it won’t jeopardize the sale of your home or force you to lower the price later on.

Now that you’re ready to sell, the next thing you should do is list your home with a real estate agent that is licensed. Because the reality is, selling a home involves a great deal of research, paper work, effort and most importantly, trust.

Ideally, you should seek out an agent that has a good knowledge of your neighbourhood and local market trends. A good agent will provide a wealth of knowledge and breadth of services that will help you accomplish your goals.

I am committed to helping you and as a licensed REALTOR® working with Royal LePage Access Real Estate here in the Shuswap, I have several fiduciary legal duties that I owe to you, including:

• Loyalty: I will act only in your best interests.

• Full Disclosure: I must tell you everything I know that might influence your decision in a transaction.

• Avoid Conflicts of Interest: I must avoid any situation that would affect my duty to act in your best interests.

• Confidentiality: I must not reveal your private information without your permission, even after our relationship ends. This includes your reasons for selling, your minimum or maximum price, and any preferred terms and conditions you may want to include in a contract.

Your home is about to make its big debut on the market. And there’s more to it than sticking a sign on your lawn and doing an MLS listing. Establishing a home’s true worth can be tricky. Here’s how I can help:

• Set a Price: This isn’t as easy as you might think. Price your property too high and buyers won’t be motivated. Price it too low and you stand to lose thousands. I can help by doing a complete property profile of your house, including current condition, location, surroundings, special features like a view from the property or high ceilings; a comparative market analysis that will show you what houses in your area have sold for in recent months, and a total market overview. As your Shuswap real estate agent, I will take into consideration as many factors as possible to accurately assess the fair market value of your property so it sells fast while maximizing your profit

• Market Your Home: No matter how well your home is priced you will need a sound plan to attract buyers. Aside from newspaper advertising and listing your home on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS®), I will create a feature sheet, floorplan, or virtual tour and have professional photos taken to make your home stand out from the pack. I will also market it through other digital social media channels, various websites and through my own personal peer network. Being a REALTOR® with Royal LePage also means that I have a national network of over 17,000 licensed real estate agents on which to draw upon for contacts and referrals.

The way your home looks to prospective buyers can make a striking impression. The goal is to get buyers to feel like they can already see themselves living in your home. There are a few tricks of the trade that can help you do this:

• Home staging: This literally means cleaning your home from top to bottom including carpets and drapes, kitchen and bathroom tiles, walls, ceilings and trim. Next, dispose and declutter which entail getting rid of those items in your home that make rooms feel smaller than they actually are. Then, organize. Tidy up cabinets, bookcases, closets and toys and put away personal items such as photographs, souvenirs and other memorabilia. If your home has empty rooms, stage it with the right furniture. You may be able to borrow some nice furniture from family or friends. There are even places to rent furniture for staging. Keep it simple and classic, nothing too trendy that could potentially turn off a buyer

• Prepping for an Open House: A successful open house is key for generating quick interest in your home. Some last minute tips? Make your rooms are bright and airy by opening blinds and windows and turning on lights in darker rooms. Help the buyers imagine themselves in your home by setting the dining table or putting out some fresh flowers. Light a scented candle. Leave some refreshments out. And for your own security, make sure you store all your valuables. When the open house is over, ask for feedback so you can make a few tweaks before the next one.

Not all offers are created equal. Fortunately, as your real estate agent, I’m here to help you review an Offer to Purchase and discuss all the details. Here are a few things you should do:

• Get to know the terms: The main factors on most offers will include the price the buyer wants to pay, details about the offer and financing as well as any conditions, inclusions or exclusions the buyer wants to make contingent on the closing. These offers can be “firm” which means that they’re willing to buy the home exactly as it is. Or, the offer could be “conditional” on things like a home inspection, approval of financing or the sale of their existing home.

• Review every detail: It’s not just about price. The buyers may have asked for other things to be included like appliances, draperies or chandeliers. They may have even requested some minor renovations like re-shingling your roof or repairing your driveway. Some buyers may have asked for longer or shorter closing periods or made it contingent upon something else like selling their current home. All these factors influence what the offer truly looks like.

As a licensed REALTOR® with Royal LePage Access Real Estate here in the Shuswap, I can help you decide whether to accept, reject or make a counter offer.

If you accept, congratulations! Let’s crack open some bubbly!

Perhaps the price was lower than you were expecting. Maybe the buyers have asked for some extra inclusions. In some cases, you may have multiple offers from different buyers to entertain. This is one stage where you’ll be glad to have a licensed real estate agent by your side to help. Here are some things to consider now:

• Counter offers: Take a good look at what the buyer is asking for, then ask yourself, “Is it worth losing a sale for a minor inclusion like a rug or drapery?” Maybe not. So, the best strategy is to have one. Know ahead of time what you’re willing to compromise on and, as far as price goes, how much. Finally, if you feel you’re not going to be able to come to terms, don’t be afraid to reject the offer.

• Multiple offers: You may be in the situation where you receive offers from several buyers. Now, you have the opportunity to compare and decide which offer, based on price and conditions best suits you. Things that could make one offer more attractive than the other are pre-approved financing, the buyer has already sold their existing home or they’ve agreed to all conditions of sale without exception. One thing to keep in mind though is that patience and respect are paramount. As your Shuswap real estate agent, I will certainly provide sound advice in this scenario to arrive at the best outcome for you and the fairest to all parties.

Closing day is the day you officially take ownership of your new home. It’s an exciting time for sure. But there are a couple of details you need to keep in mind before you get handed the keys:

• Closing costs: These fees need to be paid by or on the closing day and include mortgage application fees, inspections, legal fees, insurance, registration and more.

• Conveyancing: This is the legal process of transferring real estate from one party to another. Buying or selling a home is often described as one of the most important transactions of your life. From a legal standpoint, there are many specific steps to go through, and it can be easy to get lost in the details. Thankfully your lawyer or notary will complete the conveyancing step for you and walk you through each step one by one.

The day has finally arrived! And although there’s bound to be a bit of sadness about leaving your old home behind, there will be just as much excitement moving into your new one. Here are some tips for a smooth move:

• Make a moving checklist that details a plan for things that need to be done weeks before you move all the way up to moving day itself.

• Plan for packing by clearly labeling boxes with the rooms in which they belong.

• Make sure you get competitive quotes from reliable moving companies.

• Cancel your cable and utilities and transfer any rented appliances (like propane or water) to the new home owners. While you’re at it, make sure to have the gas, electricity, cable, internet and phone hooked up at your new home.

• Inform your key contacts of your change of address.

• On moving day, plan an easy meal like picking up some take-out or ordering pizza. Moving is stressful enough without having to cook!